Two big innings fuel Millers’ sweep of Avon

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

NOBLESVILLE – It’s always tough to beat a team twice, let alone two days in a row. Playing at home always has some sort of advantage, especially for Noblesville at Dunker Field.

The Millers took advantage at the plate in two different innings to separate themselves from Avon on the way to an 8-2 win on Thursday, sweeping the two-game series.

The Orioles were able to get to starter Eli Hall in the first. Clayton Lenz hit a ground rule double to deep center and scored on a sacrifice fly to center. Avon went up 2-0 on a wild pitch from Hall that scored Jaden Mitchell.

“I think some of those plays should have been made defensively in the first,” said Noblesville head coach Justin Keever. “Some plays that we normally make, we didn’t and they made us pay.”

Hall settled down in his final four innings, allowing just two hits in that span and striking out five.

“I thought Eli battled. He didn’t have his best stuff, but he kept battling,” said Keever. “One of the keys in the fourth, he got his cutter going against the lefties and got quick groundouts. That allowed Griffin [Snider] to come in and throw his electric stuff there for two innings.”

After stranding four in the first two innings, the Millers fought back in the third.

Aiden Reynolds walked to lead off and moved to second on a Brooks Riggs single to center. Jalen Stidham lined a grounder up the middle, sending Reynolds home for the first run.

Sophomore DH Christian Penaloza doubled to left, driving Riggs home for a 2-2 tie. Slade Hodges got hit by a pitch and made his way to third on a Chris Martz single to center. Stidham and Penaloza both ran home for the 4-2 lead through three.

Hall threw a solid five frames with seven strikeouts. He gave up four hits and one walk before Snider took over.

“In the sixth inning, they had two, three and four coming up. Griff had a guy down 0-2 and I called a slider and he backed up on him. He got him to foul two sinkers off of his chin,” added Keever. “To Griff’s credit, he put them down in order. His stuff’s electric and he’s really good.”

The Millers were motivated at the plate after Snider struck out the final three in the top of the sixth.

Martz and Ethan Clark walked with one out, followed by Reynolds being intentionally walked, loading the bases.

Then on the next pitch, Zac Glander sent a towering grand slam over the fence in left for what wound up as the final of 8-2.

“It was just a great team win tonight. Every guy played their part and found a way for us to win,” stated Keever.

Glander’s grand slam and Penaloza’s two-hit night highlighted the Miller offense.

Noblesville (5-3, 2-0 HCC) has won three in a row and hosts the Lake Central Indians (2-2) tomorrow at 1 p.m.